Lot 3307. A finely carved ivory 'dragon' seal, Qing Dynasty, 18th century; 3.5 cm., 1 3/5 in. Estimate 1,000,000 — 1,500,000 HKD. Lot Sold 1,220,000 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's.

the cream-colour tusk with a warm golden patina, of square section with canted edges on top, surmounted by a finely articulated chilong clambering on top, its coiled body with head turned sharply back toward his tail, open mouth carved in detail with individual teeth delicately rendered, with his long tail tucked between his legs, the seal face carved in positive script reading zi deng yihao gui qing.

Note: The strength of the carving is shown by the toned musculature and expressiveness of the chilong, as well as the soft, dynamic flow of its posture which masterly captures the spirit of the animal.

The chilong, a popular motif on Han decoration, was likely to have been revived under the archaistic fervour of the Song dynasty, and became popular again from the Yuan dynasty onwards. The chilong on this seal is reminiscent of Ming dragons carved on ivory seals. For example see a Yongle period seal finely carved with a single muscular chilong, its body sharply turned back on itself as if chasing its long bifurcated tail, from Eskenazi, Ltd., London, sold in these rooms, 10th April 2006, lot 1638; and another Ming seal included in the Fung Ping Shan Museum exhibition, op. cit., cat. no. 198, with a single chilong coiled around itself.

See also a seal attributed to the late Ming and early Qing periods, sold in our New York rooms, 3rd June 1992, lot 109, and later in the collection of Mary and George Bloch and sold again in these rooms, 23rd October 2005, lot 46, finely carved with a dragon with its head sharply turned to meet the eye of a young dragon on its back. See also the ivory seal sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th October 2009, lot 1818 from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat collection.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011